Protective appliance for mills, factories, &amp;c.



Patented Dec. l8, I900.

m. MARTIN.

PROTECTIVE APPLIANCE FOR MILLS, FACTURIES, &-C.

(Application filed Oct. 17, 1898.)

(No Model.)

a J nu m: nonms PEYERs co. wmc-urrio WASHINGTON. 04 c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS MARTIN, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETT ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS J. DRUMMOND,OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PROTECTIVE APPLIANCE FOR MILLS, FACTGRIES, 84C;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,331, dated December18, 1900.

Application filed. October 17, 1898. Serial No. 693,725- (No model.)

To all ZUhOTVb it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORRIS MARTIN, of Malden, county of Middlesex, Stateof Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Protective Appliancesfor Mills, Factories, Storehouses, 850., of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

Most of the large mills, factories, storehouses, &c., to be insured atlow rates have to be equipped with what is known as a sprinkler system,the sprinklers operating automatically on the occurrence of a fire andpermitting the escape of water from the pipe system, and frequently bythe action of the sprinklers alone destructive fires are obviated. Thesprinklers used are all liable to accidents, whereby the valves may bedisturbed, causing them to leak, and sometimes there is a fault, in theconnection of the sprinkler to the pipe, which results in leakage anddamage, and this leakage of water is frequently very great, flooding afactory or storehouse and damaging valuable machinery and goods. It sometimes happens that a slow leak in a storehouse which is not visitedfrequently results in damaging great quantities of goods. This damage,due to leakage of the sprinklers, is recognized as a serious evil, andthe insurance companies have been obliged to meet this contingency andalso insure against water damage due to leakage of the sprinkler system,as well as against fire. I have aimed to produce an appliance whereby onthe occasion of any leakage in the sprinkler or water-pipe system withwhich the sprinklers are connected, be it ever so little, the escape ofsaid water will instantly close an electric circuit and ring a bell orsound an alarm to give notice at suitable headquarters of the room,floor, or sprinkler, it may be, where the leakage is manifest. To dothis, I mount the appliance, hereinafter to be described,in an electriccircuit containing suitable annunciators and bells, and, if desired, thecircuit may also include a register and time-stamp to record the time ofop eration of the signals.

The bells used may be tap or vibrating bells, and hereinafterI shall inthe claims designate and the water entering the cup, be it ever solittle, will immediately effect the movement of material contained insaid hydrostat,so that it will operate a circuit-controller to make andbreak an electric circuit. With this hydrostat I have combinedoperatively a thermostat, it having as one of its parts a piston andspring, the piston being held by a drop of easily-fusible solder ormaterial which will melt at preferably a lower temperature than thatrequired to let off the usual sprinkler, so that an incipient fire inits very early stage will let off the thermostatthat is, loosen itspiston, so that it will move and operate the circuit-controller of thehydrostat-thus giving the alarm as if the hydrostat had received water.

The invention herein contained is considered as a broad one and is notin all cases limited to the particular form of hydrostat described; butI have devised a most effective and simple form of hydrostat which isespecially adapted for quick or substantially instantaneous work and istherefore most valuable in the particular connection in which thehydrostat is to be used.

My improved hydrostat consists,essentially, of a chamber or holderadapted to receive and support the material which under the influence ofwater applied to it will quickly act to operate the circuit-controllerof the hydrostat. The hydrostat is represented as provided at its upperend with a cup having a connected chamber, the water entering saidchamber so disturbing the material therein that it will be started inmotion to effect the operation of the circuit-controller. The chamberreferred to contains a substance which readily enlarges or extendsitself on cuts of a sedlitz-powder.

the admission of Water, even of a very small amount-say half ateaspoonfuland it will act instantly to operate the circuit-controller.

The material contained in the chamber in one simple form of my inventionmay be composed of dry cellulose or paper or cornpith. i have found thatpaper of the charac ter designated as blotting-paper cut into diskssuperimposed in series to constitute a pile acts with the greatestrapidity and as it enlarges or elongates acts with considerable power tosafely operate the circuit-cont roller. Instead of cutting this paperinto disks the pulp from which it is made might be molded into a stickof greater or less length and diameter. This invention is not, however,li mited in all instances to the employment of the materials named, as Imay use any dry anhydrous material or any chemicals in their dry state,the chemicals being of such nature as will upon the addition of waterthereto be put into a state of commotion and generate gas, creating apower sufficient to move the circuit-controller. As one illustration ofthis class of chemicals I will mention the ingredi- The cellulosematerial or blotting-paper or substance employed when in use may rest atone end against a piston fitted in said cylinder. This piston has been,as stated, devised to act as a thermostat, it having mounted under itshead and about its shank a spring, the piston being then pushed in adirection to compress the spring, the shank of the piston being held inposition by means of usual easily-melting solder or equivalent material.On the occurrence of heat sufficient to fuse this material the pistonwill be moved by the spring and move with it the paper or other materialin the chamber, causing it to be moved to operate thecircuit-controller.

These hydrostats, with or without their connected and cooperatingthermostats, will be joined in series by wire in a circuit, and thepiping of the system may form part of the circuitfor instance, thereturn-circuit. The hydrostats may be used at any point of the pipesystem, but preferably directly under or near a sprinkler, so that anyleakage from the sprinkler will readily enter the cup of the hydrostatand thence the chamber containing the material which under the action ofwater will be made to operate the circuitcontroller. I prefer to locatethe hydrostats underneath the pipe system, for the reason that any slowleakage will gravitate to the under side of the pipe and drop into thehydrostats; but they may be located at any desired point so long as theyare arranged to receive water which may escape from the pipes or fromthe pipe at a sprinkler or other point.

Figure 1 represents a sufficient portion of a mill, factory, or otherplace to be protected by sprinklers and my improvements herein to bedescribed added thereto. Fig. 2 shows an enlarged sectional detail ofthe combined hydrostat and thermostat applied to a pipe under theopening therein, which in practiee will receive a sprinkler. Fig. 3 is adetail showing two floors of a mill or factory with the hydrostatsconnected in circuit with an annunciator and alarm or tap bell, andFigs. 4 and 5 are modifications to be described.

In the drawings, let A represent the ceiling of a mill, factory,storehouse, or other place to be protected by a sprinkler system; B,suitable hangers to support the horizontal pipes C, said pipes extendingfrom suitable risers C, the pipes C and O constituting the pipe system.These pipes contain water under pressure, and they have suitable holes,at a, in which are screwed or fixed sprinklerheads D, each having avalve which is closed by pressure upon it of a strut composed of twoparts D D united by some easily-fusible material, such as solder, themelting of the solder, due to a fire or rise of temperature, destroyingthe connection between the said parts, letting the valve rise under thepressure of the water, so that the water striking the spreader D will bethrown about in the vicinity of the sprinkler on whatever may be in themill, factory, or storehouse.

The sprinkler shown is one of usual variety, and instead of it I may useany other usual or well-known form of sprinkler adapted to be releasedbyrisc of temperature in any other usual manner.

It frequently happens that the sprinklervalve accidentally becomesloosened and wa ter leaks through the sprin kler,and also sometimes aleak occurs at the point of connection of the sprinkler with the pipe.This leakage will drop down from the pipe and, falling upon machinery,goods, rise, is liable to do great damage, depending upon the value ofthe material which is wet down. I so 10- cate my hydrostat E withrelation to the pipe carrying the water and the sprinkler that anyleakage will enter the open top of cup 6, surrounding the chamber 6. Thechamber 0 is prolonged at (2 above or into the cup, and saidprolongation is provided with inlets, as a one or more, so that waterentering the cup may pass through the inlet into the chamber. The top ofthis chamber is closed by an insulating-block j", which may be composedof india-rubber or other equivalent material, held in place by suitablescrews f. This insulating-block receives a bolt g],'f0ll11iug one memberof a circuit-controller,the other member being movable, and, as hereinshown, it is represented as composed .of a disk g, lo cated within andguided by the inner walls of the chamber 6, said disk having, as shown,one or more spiral springs g to always maintain contact with themetallic wall of the chamber, and said second or movable member of thecircuit-controller rests, as represented in Fig. 2, upon the materialwhich under the action of water will be enlarged or expanded to operatesaid movable member of the circuit-controller. The material employed inFig. 2 is supposed to be blotting- LIA paper out into disks andsuperimposed one on the other to make a pile. The stationary member g ofthe circuit-controller affords a means for connecting with the hydrostatthe wire it, used as one member of the electric circuit. Fig. 2 showsthe contact madebetween the Wire and the fixed member of thecircuitcontroller by means of suitable nuts 7t and h which are screwedtogether tightly one with relation to the other, so as to grasp the wirefirmly. The cup 6 is in this instance of my invention represented assupported by a bracket made as a fork m,it having teats m, which aresprung into holes in the cup, and the upper end of the bracket may havetwo jaws m, which may be sprung over the pipe 0 at any desired point;but instead of this bracket I may use any other suitable or convenientform or shape of bracket in order to support the hydrostat properl ywith relation to the pipe system and sprinklers. In the bottom of thischamber I have located a piston (designated as 9 having a stem or, thesaid stem being extended out through a hole in the bottom of thechamber, which stem receives upon it a quick-melting solder or materialwhich holds the piston in its depressed position, it compressing aspring a located between the under side of the head of the piston andthe end of the chamber. ton so held constitutes what is hereindesignated as a thermostat.

Assuming that the apparatus is in position and water should enter thecup, it will immediately enter the inlets 6 and ever so little of it,even half a teaspoonful, will meet the blotting-paper or equivalentcellulose or dry material, and the latter will expand and elongateitself, lifting and operating the movable member 9 of thecircuit-controller, causing the point g to meet the inner end of thesta-' tionary member of the circuit-controller, and immediatelythereafter this operation of the circuit-controller will be announced atan indicator or annunciator, as 0 or 0, and the bell or alarm 0 willalso be actuated, sounding the same and calling attention to the factthat leakage is occurring, and the an nunciator will show the particularfloor or room, or it may be the particularhydrostat, at which the wateris escaping.

It will be understood that the annunciator may be of any usual known orsuitable kind and may have any desired number of drops and that thewiring from the annunciator to the circuit-controller may be made in anyusual or well-known Way, as may be readily understood by a practicalelectrician.

In the drawings, Fig.3,I have shown a building of two floors, one floorhaving the wire h, running to the annunciator 0, and the other floorhaving a wire h which runs into an annunciator 0, the battery beinglocated at B and the return-circuit wire h being connected with the pipesystem.

In the modification Fig. 4 I have shown the circuit-contro1ler normallyclosed; but pref- The piserably the said controller will be normallyopen, as in Fig. 2. In Fig. 4 the cellulose material or paper will beput on a rod 1", attached to a head r, supported by a spiral spring W,said rod constituting the movable member of the circuit-controller, saidmovable member being kept compressed against the stationary member g ofthe controller by said spring. Should water fall on the paper ormaterial, the same will quickly swell between the fixed plate or supportr and the head 1' and will move the head and rod to break thenormallyclosed circuit, thus operating the indicator, alarm, orannunciator.

I/Vhen the movable member of the circuitcontroller (see Fig. 2) isactuated to close the circuit, the spring g thereon keeps in contactwith the inner metallic side of the cham ber e, and when the controlleris closed the electricity passes through said movable member, the upperpart 6 of the chamber, and the cup and hanger to the pipe 0.

The cellulose, paper, 850., is dry or anhydrous, and, as has beenstated, this invention is not intended to be limited in all respects tothe particular kind of dry material used in the hydrostat to operate thecircuit-controller quickly when water is added to the dry material.

Fig. 5 shows a modification wherein a powdered dry substance sforinstance, a sedlitzpowder-is contained in the chamber 6, and lying onthis dry material is a thickness of blotting-paper F, on which rests amovable member composed of metal having a metallic point 3 and one ormore perforations, as to let water entering the chamber pass through thesaid member and mix with the powder, and the effervescence of the powderwill create a gas which will lift the member carrying the point 3'sufficiently to cause it in this instance to close the electric circuiton the stationary member s and operate the indicator. The paper if willcheck the outflow of the gas generated in the powder.

I may use a hydrostat at each sprinkler, or I may use a less number ofhydrostats, connecting adjacent hydrostats with a trough if, itreceiving any water which may leak from the system and conduct it intothe hydrostat.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a protective appliance for mills and the like, a hydrostatcomprising a reservoir or chamber, hydro-expansible material supportedin said chamber and means for conducting liquid into said chamber.

2. In a protective appliance for mills and the like, a hydrostatcomprising hydro-expansible material, means for supporting saidmaterial, means for conducting liquid to said hydro-expansible material,and an indicator set in motion by the expansion of said materlai.

3. A hydrostat composed of a chamber or holder, a circuit-controller,and hydro-expansible means sustained by said chamber or holder, andadapted in the presence of water to operate said controller and meansfor conducting Water to said chamber, substantially as described.

4:. A hydrostat com posed of a chamber containing anhydrous material ina free or loose condition and a circuit-controller actuated through themovement of the said material in the presence of Water.

5. A hydrostat composed of a chamber or holder containing paper of thecharacter known as blotting-paper, and a circuitcontroller, saidcontroller being operated quickly by the expansion of said paper afterthe application of Water thereto, substantially as described.

6. A hydrostat having a chamber containing hydro-expansible materialsupported by said chamber, an electric circuit, an indicator controlledby said circuit, and a circuit controller adapted to be operated by theexpansion of such material.

7. In combination with a water-supplysystem of a hydrostat havinghydro-expansible material and means to sustain said material, saidhydrostat being connected to and adapt ed to catch Water issuing fromsaid system.

S. A hydrostat having a hydro-expansible material, and means forsustaining the said material, in combination With a thermostat adjacentthereto and a circuit-controller operable by both the hydrostat andthermostat.

9. A circuit-controller, and a chamber or holder having a movable pistonand rod at one end to sustain dry cellulose material adapted to swelland increase in size rapidly by the action of Water to operate saidcircuit-conee4,ss1

troller, combined with a spring acted upon by said piston and heldcompressed by easilyfusible solder, the melting of said solder alsooperating the said circuit-controller, substantially as described.

10. An electric circuit, an indicator governed by the circuit, acircuit-controller, a hydrostat having hydro-expansible material adaptedto control said circuit-controller, and a thermostat also adapted tocontrol said circuit-controller.

11. A. sprinkler, a hydrostat subjacent thereto and comprising achamber, l1ydroexpansible material contained within said chamber and anindicator under control of the said hydro-expansible material.

12. A hydrostat comprising a chamber and a drip-cup leading thereto,said chamber containing material the cubical area of which is changeableby Water, and an indicator under control of said mat ,rial.

13. A sprinkler, a hydrostat subjacent thereto and comprising a chamber,a drip-cup leading thereto, said chamber containing material the cubicalarea of Which is changeable by Water, and an indicator under control ofsaid material.

14. A hydrostat having hydro-expansible material, a thermostat, and anindicator under control of both said hydrostat and thermostat.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

MORRIS MARTIN. lVitnesses:

GEO. W. GREGORY, MARGARET A. G. DUNN.

